Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-08-04
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, JULY 25, lSS

WASHINGTON, JULY 70, 1881.
The records of the past week show a
little more than the usual amount of
public business transacted in spite of
the intense heat. The president re-
mains entirely at Oak View, and will
continue to do so as the present warm
weather continues. But his secretary,
Col. Lamont, is daily at the white
house, and all matters of Importance
are brought before executive notice
through his agency. Numerous invi-
tations have been received inviting the
president and his wife to visit the west,
and specially the northwestern cities
of st. Paul, and Minneapolis. A teie-
gram has been sent by the mayor of St.
Louis, asking ii the president would
receive delegation who come to invite
him to visit st. Louis, after the en-
campment of the Grand Army men.
The president replied that he would be
in Washington on Monday, but he has
so far signified no intention of accept
ing any OF the invitations extended to
him.
The secretaries of state, war. and
navy, held u conference on Saturday.
and have at last named successor to
the late Engineer Harry Lee Snyder,
who was Superintendent of the state,
war and navy department. 1t may be
remembered that Engineer Snyder died
suddenly few weeks ago. Chief En-
gineer Thos. Williamson, U. S. NJ, has
been nominated to ill the place, and a
com mission made out and sent to Oak
View for the presidents signature
Engineer Williamson was formerly at.
tached to the Pacific Squadron, and is
now at his home in Warrenton, Va, on
waiting orders. 1t is said that his
appointment is as great a surprise tc
him. for he was not an applicant fol
the position, as it is q disappointment
to several engineers who were trying
for the place.
The navy yard at Washington has
been transferred to the control of the
ordinance bureau, and the yard eurnet
into gun foundry. This change fa:
met with much complaint nnd some
ridicule, but the work progresses favor
ably Notwithstanding. Besides tn,
regular machine shops for the manu-
facture OF naval ordinance, q class ha!
been organized to train seamen, and i:
now being instructed in the manipula
tion and care of guns, carriages, am
munition, and all the paraphernalia o.
cunning. After the course is com
pleted here, the seamen are sent t.
Newport, II. l., for six months instruc
tion at the torpedo station. On ac
quiring the required percentage, the,
receive the pay of seamen gunners, ant
are also eligible to the position of war
rant officers. With the completion O
the new cruisers, well equipped an.
manned by trained seamen our navy
will be no longer reproach to us, no
justify the old minstrel joke, abou
having plenty of water" ana onl,
wanting a "few ships to make it tn,
grandest navy in the world, sir"
The count of cash in the treasur,
vaults, began on the 23d, of May, wa.
finished on the 23d Of July. This coun
was rendered necessary by the chang,
of U. s. treasurer. Mr.. Hyatt, OF Conn
having succeeded Mr.. Jordan, who re
signed to accept the position of vic,
| president of the new national bank es
tahlished in New York City, of which
Ex-Secretary Manning is president
The count developed but one error,
shortage of $3.50, promptly made goot
by the clerk, to whom through care
lessness in the former count, the errol
was due. The amount on hand in nat
| ional bank notes and legal tender note.
was disposed of in about three days
but the silver dollars occupied, with :
large force of men to do the work
two months in the counting.
The present postmaster of Charles
ton, $. e., Mr.. MowYy, was, ut the tim,
Of his appointment, clerk to the com
mittee of the house of representatives
He now CLAIMS the salary as clerk O
the committee up to June 3Oth, in ad
dition to that Of postmaster. First
| Comptroller Durham, REJECTS the clain
on the ground that no one is entitle,
to draw two salaries from the govern
ment. The objections Of the coanptrol
Ter. appear fair, but it seems that tn,
supreme court has decided diirercntI,
in anotaes and similar case. that o